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Overview

Madrid, the capital city of Spain

Madrid, the capital city of Spain

Madrid is the capital city of Spain, located in the heart of the Iberian Peninsula. This cosmopolitan city is inhabited by more than 3 million people basked in a culturally and artistically rich environment. Well known for its amazing nightlife along with its intense cultural and artistic activities, Madrid appears is a versatile city which will satisfy every traveller’s need and curiosity. The energy of this city will drive even the most reluctant ones to dance, explore and tasting all sorts of delicacies… This is called the movida vibe! For spectacular views over Madrid, take the teleférico cable car over Casa del Campo’s 4000 acres of wild woodland. It leaves from Paseo del Pintor Rosales street, near Argüelles Metro station.

Discover the outstanding Prado museum, the Plaza Mayor and rest in the vast and verdant oasis of Parque del Retiro before feeling the temperature of the late night flamenco shows. Madrid has two main train stations, namely Madrid Atocha railway station and Madrid Chamartin railway station.

When in Madrid you can enjoy some of the city’s many cultural attractions. If you like art, you can visit the golden triangle, where you can find three of Spain’s top museums: El Prado, Thyssen-Bornemisza and Reina Sofia, located in the core of the city.

At the El Prado, you can find one of the most important collections of classical paintings in the world, from early gothic to the early 19th century, with excellent collections of paintings by major artists such as Bosch, Titian, Velázquez, El Greco, Murillo, Rubens and Goya. If you like classical painting and have only a few hours to spend in Madrid, this is the place to be! For modern are, head to Reina Sofia, which has Picasso’s Guernica as the main attraction.

Other than museums, visit the Plaza Mayor and the Palacio de Oriente area. If you want to enjoy some of the local ambience, try the Plaza de Santa Ana area, with hundreds of restaurants and cafés. Madrid is also the host city of the world’s most crowned football team, the Real Madrid Football Club. Don’t miss a visit to the Santiago Benabeu stadium.

Spain is a land of fine food and its capital city, Madrid, is an excellent place to discover the traditional tapas bars, marisquerias (seafood bars) and relaxing cafes. One of the best way to do so, is to go to the beautiful Cava Baja, the epicentre of the historic La Latina neighbourhood. There, tapas bars are lined up, serving Madrid’s signature ‘creative cuisine’. You can also find new eateries in Chueca neighbourhood, north of bustling Gran Via. Enjoy beers and snacks in one of Plaza Santa Ana’s oak-panelled cervecerias or bar-hop in Madrid’s trendy Malasaña district.

A wonder city like Madrid is an invitation for shopping. Calle Fuencarral, north of Gran Via, is lined with trendy fashion stores while Spanish high-street brands cluster around Puerto del Sol. For designer labels, visit Calle Serrano in the upscale Salamanca district or head to La Latina, south of Plaza Mayor, which transforms into a sea of stalls selling art to antiques at Sunday’s El Rastro market.

The city’s tourist office has a helpful personnel, insider information and tips as well as handy maps and brochures. The city’s tourist office also arranges tours and excursions and is a focal point for local accommodation.

Getting to and from Madrid

To Madrid

From
Barcelona

02:30

From
Marseille

07:03

From
Lisbon

10:43

From
Seville

02:20

From
Bilbao

04:52

From
Tarragona

04:46

From
Ronda

03:54

From
Huelva

03:40

From
Cadiz

04:05

From
Algeciras

05:22

From
Gijon

05:55

From
Irun

05:35

From
Oviedo

05:29

From
Jerez De La Frontera

03:27

From
San Sebastian

05:18

From
Benicassim

03:17

From
Huesca

02:05

From
Palencia

02:13

From
Cordoba

01:43

From
Valladolid

01:35

From
Ciudad Real

00:52

From
Malaga

02:25

From
Castellon De La Plana

02:56

From
Toledo

00:33

From
Logrono

03:15

From
Leon

03:14

From
Pamplona

03:03

From
Girona

03:24

From Madrid

To
Toledo

00:33

To
Ciudad Real

01:01

To
Valladolid

01:47

To
Cordoba

02:04

To
Huesca

02:13

To
Palencia

02:20

To
Seville

02:47

To
Malaga

02:50

To
Castellon De La Plana

03:19

To
Leon

03:20

To
Pamplona

03:21

To
Logrono

03:23

To
Benicassim

03:27

To
Ronda

03:45

To
Jerez De La Frontera

03:53

To
Zumarraga

04:02

To
Girona

04:03

To
Huelva

04:06

To
Cadiz

04:29

To
Tarragona

04:34

To
Bilbao

05:00

To
Algeciras

05:13

To
Oviedo

05:31

To
Barcelona

05:36

To
Gijon

05:57

To
Paris

10:28

To
Lisbon

10:43

To
Blois

12:51

Train Station(s)

Trains are a convenient way of reaching many towns and cities throughout Europe. The majority of cities in Europe have a minimum of one train station, while larger, more populated cities have two or more stations. Train stations, in general, are located in the heart of the city. Review the map below to get an idea of where the train station(s) in Madrid can be found.

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